As has often been the case in recent years, GranPiemonte is a race open to countless interpretations, and 2025 will be no exception. Riders who thrive in the classics will find the perfect terrain to shine on the roads of Piedmont, but pure climbers and even fast finishers on a brilliant day can also dream of victory.
The 2025 edition starts in Dogliani (province of Cuneo) and finishes in Acqui Terme (province of Alessandria), covering 179 kilometers of spectacular racing open to many rider types. The opening section is relatively straightforward, with rolling terrain through prestigious wine territories, including Cherasco, Barolo, and Alba. The first real climb comes at the Bric della Forma, about 100 km from the finish, but given its distance it’s unlikely to prove decisive.
Things could heat up on the Rocchetta Palafea ascent, just under 3 km long at an average gradient of 8%, crested with just over 70 km to go, sure to start putting fatigue into the legs. The race, however, will be decided on the double ascent of Castelletto d’Erro: a 6 km climb averaging 6.3%, with a brutal opening kilometer at 10–11%, remaining tough through 2.5 km before easing slightly, only to ramp back up in the final kilometer.
The first passage leaves 47 km to the finish, after which the riders cross the line in Acqui Terme for the first time and head out on a 33 km finishing loop. That circuit then brings them back to Castelletto d’Erro for a final climb 14 km from the line, followed by a technical descent and a flat 7 km run-in.
Predicting the finale is no easy task: a small group could contest the win, or it might be a lone rider. Just as in 2023 with Andrea Bagioli’s victory, and in 2024 with Neilson Powless’s success, the race promises to be thrilling right down to the last meter.
